Photo 1

Scene of owl perched in tree silhouetted
against full moon low to the horizon.Credit: Kirk Woellert/NSF

Photo 2

A big brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus)
approaches a wax moth (Galleria mellonella),
which serves as the control species for the studies
of the tiger moths. The moth is only "semi-tethered,"
allowing it the mobility to fly evasively.Photo credit: William Conner and Nickolay Hristov,
Wake Forest University.

Photo 3

The big brown bat is poised to scoop
the wax moth into its tail membrane. The bat will
then dip its head in to eat its prey. Photo credit: William Conner and Nickolay Hristov,
Wake Forest University.

Photo 4

The researchers use an infrared camera
to capture high-speed (250 frames per second), detailed
images of the predator-prey interaction in three dimensions.Photo credit: William Conner and Nickolay Hristov,
Wake Forest University.

Photo 5

The pumpkin balloon, which scientists
are now building, will be used to conduct atmospheric
measurement of temperature, pressure, humidity, ozone,
and other trace gases.